Dental floss holder



Feb. 22, 1938. c. B. ELCAN DENTAL FLOSS HOLDER Filed April 3, 1937 BYMyra/M312;

ATTORN EYS Patented Feb. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Par k,Ark.

Application April 3, 1937, Serial No. 134,892

5 Claims.

This invention relates to holders for dental floss and has for theprimary object the provision of a device of this character for securinga strand of dental floss in a taut condition and 5; in a positionwhereby it may be conveniently used for removing foreign matter fromteeth.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a device of theabove stated character which willfully protect the-floss prior to useand will accommodate the floss after use and maintain the used flossseparate from the clean floss so that the clean floss will not becomecontaminated.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a dental flossholder of the above stated character which will be simple, durable andefiicient and which may be manufactured and sold at a low cost and maybe conveniently carried within a persons pocket or pocketbook.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts tobe hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention,

reference is to be had to the following descrip-.

. tion and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevationillustrating a dental floss holder constructed in accordance with myinvention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure2.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the nu- .gg meral l indicates a maincasing of substantially elliptical shape in cross section. One end ofthe casing is considerably reduced forming a sleeve 2 on which isrotatably mounted an operating cap 3. Another portion of the casing l isslightly 4:; reduced to form a sleeve 4 in which are arranged spacedpartitions 5 and 6. At the point of formation of the sleeves of thecasing I are internal and external shoulders I and 8. The internalshoulder l forms a seat for the partition 6 and the external shoulder 8forms a seat for a 010- sure cap 9 employed for closing one end of thecasing l. The partition 5 is secured in the sleeve 4 in any suitablemanner so that it may be removed when desired. An operating shaft 55 Iis located in the casing I and one end is rotatably supported by thepartition 6 and the other end is secured to the cap 3. A spring dog H issecured to the shaft l0 and engages with the ratchet teeth l2 formed onthe inner face of the sleeve '2 for the purpose of permitting the shaftiii to be rotated in one direction by the cap 3 and be held against areverse rotation.

The outer face of the casing has a knurled surface so that a firm gripcan be obtained thereon. A spool shaft Ill is rotatably supported by thepartitions and 6 and is provided at one. end with a head l2. A spool l4containing dental floss is secured on the shaft l0. vThe shaft I9 isprovided with angularly related faces l3 adjacent the head l2. The spacein the casing l between the partition ii and cap 3 forms a chamber ll toreceive dental floss after being used and which winds on a spool llsecured to the shaft l0.

Spaced ribs 18 are formed on the partition 5 and slidably support alocking plate I9. The locking plate has formed therein a substantiallycircular-shaped opening 29 and a slot 2| in communication therewith. Theshaft l0 extends through the opening 20 and when located therein is freeto rotate. 'However, on shifting the position of the plate l9 theslot 2|receives the angularly related faces of the shaft and thereby securesthe shaft against rotation.

A rib 22 is formed on the plate l9 to provide a finger piece to aid aperson in sliding the plate l9 into its different positions.

Tubes 23 and 24 are secured to the sleeve 4 and extend outwardlytherefrom and the tube 23 extends a short distance farther outwardly ofthe sleeve than the tube 24. The cap 9 when applied to the sleeve coverssaid tubes. The tube 24 terminates within the chamber ll while the tube23 terminates within the space between the partitions 5 and 5. Thedental floss from the spool passes through the tube 23 thence throughthe tube 24 for winding onto the spool ll within the chamber ll. Theportion of the dental floss between the tubes 23 and 24 is disposed atan, inclination and so positioned for the purpose of permitting thatportion of the floss to be easily engaged with and between teeth for thepurpose of removing foreign matter.

A sleeve 26 is slidable in the tube 24 and through which the dentalfloss passes on leaving the tube 24 for winding on the shaft l0 withinthe chamber IT. The sleeve has a finger piece 21 which extends through aslot 28 in the casing I and by adjusting the sleeve endwise of the tube24 the floss may be caused to change spool on the shaft l8 onto thespool II within the chamber H. It is to be understood that the windingof the floss from one spool to the otherspool only takes place when theportion of the floss has been employed or used which extends between thetubes 23 and 24 so that fresh floss may be brought into a usableposition and the used floss Wound on the spool II within the chamber Hand kept separate from the unused floss, thereby increasing sanitationof the device. After the floss has been adjusted to present a newportion between the tubes 23 and 24 the locking plate 2i is shifted tosecure the shaft I6 and then by a slight rotation of the shaft I!) thefloss may be drawn taut.

The formation of the sleeve 2 on the casing I defines a groove 35 andthe edge of the cap is flanged or bent to lie in said groove wherebysaid cap is rotatably mounted on the sleeve and prevented fromaccidentally pulling off of the sleeve.

What is claimed is:

l. A dental floss holder comprising a casing having chambers, a spoolshaft journaled in one of the chambers and having a spool of dentalfloss secured thereon, spaced tubes'having the floss passing from thespool therethrough to present a portion of the floss in place for'use,and means carried by said casing on which the floss may be wound.

2. A dental floss holder comprising a casing having chambers, a spoolshaft journaled in one of the chambers and having a spool of dentalfloss secured thereon, spaced tubes having the floss passing from thespool therethrough to present a portion of the floss in place for use,an operating shaft journaled in the casing, a finger piece rotatablymounted on said casing, a ratchet drive between the finger piece and theoperating shaft for rotating said operating'shaft in one direction towind the floss thereon.

3. A dental floss holder comprising a casing means for the spool shaftwhereby the floss may be tensioned by imparting a slight rotation to theoperating shaft.

4. A dental floss holder comprising a casing having chambers, a spoolshaft journaled in one of the chambers and having a spool of dentalfloss secured thereon, spaced tubes having the floss passing from thespool therethrough to present a portion of the floss in place for use,an operating shaft journaled in the casing, a finger piece rotatablymounted on said casing, a ratchet drive between the finger piece and theoperating shaft for rotating said operating shaft in one direction towind the floss theron, a locking means for the spool shaft whereby thefloss may be tensioned by imparting slight rotation to the operatingshaft, a cover removable from said casingand overlying the tubes toprotect the dental floss exposed between said'tubes.

5. A- dental floss holder comprising a casing having chambers, a spoolshaft journaled in one of the chambers and having a spool of dentalfloss secured thereon, spaced tubes having the floss passing from thespool therethrough to present a portion of the floss in place for use,an operating shaft journaled in the casing, a second spool secured totheoperating shaft, a finger piece rotatably mounted on said casing, aratchet drive between the finger piece and the operating shaftforrotating the latter to wind used floss on the second spool, a lockingmeans for the spool shaft whereby the floss may be tensioned byimparting slight rotation to the operating shaft, a cover removable fromsaid casing and overlying the tubes to protect the dental floss exposedbetween said tubes, a sleeve slidable in one of said tubes, and a fingerpiece formed on said sleeve and extending outwardly of the casingwhereby said sleeve may be adjusted endwise of its respective tube forvarying the feeding of the dental floss onto the operating shaft.

CATHERINE B. ELCAN.

